How Can Acupuncture Help With Imbalanced Hormones?

Acupuncture For Hormonal Balance and Fertility

Acupuncture has proven safe and effective in the natural treatment of hormone imbalances. Hormones are chemical messengers that travel around your bloodstream, influencing the way your organs and tissue function. These powerful chemicals control many of your body’s major processes,

including:

–          Sexual Function and Reproduction

–          Appetite and Metabolism

–          Growth and Development

–          Sleep cycles

–          Digestion

–          Mood

–          Heart rate

–          Body temperature

There are many different types of hormones in the body. They support the relationships between different systems of the body, and when they are out of balance, they can cause many different side effects.

Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance

When you have a hormonal imbalance, it means your body is producing too much or too little of a certain hormone. Women typically experience progestogen and estrogens imbalances during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause. Depending on which hormone(s) is involved, an imbalance can cause different symptoms, such as:

–          Weight loss or weight gain

–          Low libido

–          Fatigue

–          Irregular menstruation

–          Depression

–          Irregular, heavy, or painful periods

–          Indigestion, diarrhea, constipation

–          Increased hair growth on the neck, chest, face, and back

–          Abnormal growths or skin tags

–          Uterine bleeding

–          Infertility

–          Breast tenderness

Causes of Hormone Imbalance

Many factors can trigger hormone imbalance, depending on which hormone or glands are affected, but the most common causes can be traced back to the malfunction of the endocrine glands. A common cause of imbalanced hormones are:

–          Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

–          Menopause

–          Birth control pills

–          Hormone replacement

–          Pregnancy and breastfeeding

–          Chronic stress levels

–          Hyperthyroidism

–          Diabetes

–          Low levels of cortisol

–          Poor diet and nutrition

–          Benign tumors and cysts

–          Exposure to toxins and pollutants

–          Cancer and cancer treatments

It’s important to identify the specific causative factor in order to get the right treatment and make sure your hormones are produced and stored in the right amounts.

Acupuncture for Hormone Balance

Acupuncture is a complementary medical treatment that involves the insertion of fine, sterile needles into certain points of the body, called acupoints. The needles penetrate the skin’s surface to stimulate the acupoints along the interconnecting meridians of the body that correspond to specific organs. Acupuncture encourages blood circulation and promotes the flow of vital energy (qi). By doing this, it stimulates the pieces of energy that have been blocked, which is crucial to regulating the communication between the brain and organs and adjusting the function of the glands.  Tapping into the acupoints allows the body to return to the state of homeostasis, thereby restoring balance. Acupuncture is painless and has positive effects on internal organs. This form of therapy has proven to be effective in treating conditions such as endometriosis, PCOS, infertility, amenorrhea, non-ovulation, luteal defect, and other conditions related to hormone imbalances. While each person’s situation is different, it usually takes 2 to 3 months or regular treatments to solve hormonal imbalance using acupuncture. Serious issues can take longer. And depending on your condition and overall health, your acupuncturist may also recommend dietary and lifestyle changes for long-lasting outcomes. Overall, acupuncture can help you feel balanced, calm, grounded, and rested. If you know or suspect you have imbalanced hormones, make an appointment with an acupuncturist and see how this form of therapy can help.